Rebecca Johnson drops out of GOP primary

Former House special election candidate Rebecca Johnson, R-Mt. Washington, has withdrawn her candidacy from the May 22 GOP primary election.

Johnson, the widow of Dan Johnson, who killed himself in December of 2017, lost the special election for the 49th District House seat in February to Democratic Rep. Linda Belcher, D-Shepherdsville.

With approximately 15 percent of registered voters turning out to vote in the special election, Belcher defeated Johnson with 3,386 votes to Johnson’s 1,561. Johnson’s campaign initially claimed voter fraud as the reason they lost the special election, but never challenged the result.

In a statement sent to Pure Politics, Johnson said she decided the time was wrong to seek the GOP nomination.

“I feel my time can be best served with my family and my ministry. It was my pleasure to represent the Bullitt County Republican Party in the special election that was held in the 49th District,” Johnson said. “I am grateful for all the love and support from the Republican Party leadership, my volunteers and for those who voted for me. I will continue to carry on the work of my husband, and I will continue to work with the great people of Bullitt County meet the many challenges we face as a community. Thanks and God bless.”

Republican Thomas Huff of Shepherdsville will now run unopposed in the primary. He will face Belcher in November.

Nick Storm

Nick Storm is the Anchor and Managing Editor of Pure Politics available exclusively on Spectrum News. Pure Politics is the only nightly program dedicated to Kentucky politics. Nick covers all of the political heavyweights and his investigative work brings to light issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, like his coverage of the backlog of DNA rape kits waiting to be tested in Kentucky. Nick is also working on a feature length bio documentary Outlaw Poet: A documentary on Ron Whitehead. Pure Politics airs weeknight at 7 and 11:30 on Spectrum News. Follow Nick on Twitter @NStorm_Politics. Nick can be reached at 502-792-1107 or nicholas.storm@charter.com.